Patent and Licensing Awards
Laboratory researchers whose innovations were patented or licensed
in 2002 were recognized at the fifth annual Laboratory Patent and Licensing
Awards ceremony in February. Sponsored by the Industrial Business Development
Division, the ceremony honored 130 current and former employees for their
contributions to the Lab's portfolio of patented, copyrighted,
and licensable technologies. The 2002 Distinguished Patent and Licensing
Awards
were also presented.

The 2002 Distinguished Patent Award was shared by Basil Swanson and
former Los Alamos staff member Xuedong Song of the Bioscience Division
for their patent of the Triggered Optical Biosensor. By amplifying specific
binding events between fluorescence molecules, the biosensor can detect
protein toxins, viruses, antibodies, and other biomolecules. Such sensor
technology is critical to defending against threats of bioterrorism and
has medical applications in diagnosing respiratory diseases. The Distinguished
Patent Award recognizes inventors whose work exemplifies significant technical
advance, adaptability to public use, and noteworthy value to the Lab's
mission.

The 2002 Distinguished Licensing Award went to Benjamin Warner of the
Chemistry Division. Warner's work, which spans radiation dosimetry,
micro-x-ray fluorescence for drug discovery, and electrochromic (tinting)
windows, has led to numerous commercialization ventures for the Laboratory.
Warner has eleven patent disclosures and five pending patent applications,
most of which were submitted in the past two years. He has actively pursued
licensing opportunities, identifying markets for his varied inventions
and promoting collaboration with potential licensees. The Distinguished
Licensing Award recognizes inventors for outstanding success in transferring
Lab technologies to the public and private sectors.

Last year, seventy-five U.S. patents were issued for Los Alamos inventions,
thirty-one commercial licenses were approved, and $1.43 million in licensing
income was generated. The Lab's portfolio now contains more than
600 licenses with academia, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations
as well as more than 150 commercial licenses. Since 1988, the Lab's
licensing program has generated more than $7.5 million in royalties. Approximately
two-thirds of that income has gone to fund research, education, and technology
transfer activities at the Laboratory. The remainder has gone to the innovators.
—Todd Hanson

Laboratory Turns 60

On April 7, the Laboratory kicked off its 60th anniversary celebration.
Festivities began with an anniversary address by Interim Laboratory Director
Pete Nanos, who discussed the Lab's past and future. Following his talk,
Nanos moderated a forum of former Lab directors that included Harold Agnew,
Sig Hecker, and John Browne. John Hopkins, an associate director under
Donald Kerr and Sig Hecker, represented Kerr in the forum. The directors
discussed key accomplishments and challenges that occurred during their
tenures. At an afternoon ceremony, Nanos awarded Los Alamos National Laboratory
Medals to George Cowan and Louis Rosen in recognition of their distinguished
scientific service to both the Lab and the nation.

The Laboratory was founded six decades ago,
although historians disagree on the precise date. The formal contract between
the federal government
and the University of California establishing the Laboratory was signed
on April 20, 1943. But the first meeting of the scientific committee headed
by the Lab's founding director, J. Robert Oppenheimer, was held on
March 6. Special events during the next six months will celebrate the accomplishments
of Lab employees and the support of neighboring communities over the past
sixty years.

As part of these festivities, the Laboratory and the University of California
have scheduled an Anniversary Recognition Ceremony on April 22. Special
guests invited include New Mexico's two U.S. senators, Pete Domenici
and Jeff Bingaman, other members of Congress, many state and local officials,
and officials from the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security
Administration. Later in the day, two major new Lab facilities will be
dedicated: the Nonproliferation and International Security Center and
the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamics Test (DARHT) facility.